As the world’s cry for change grows louder with the passing of time, more and more
people look to contribute to a greener Earth by turning to renewable sources of energy.
At the forefront of that is the application of solar power in the lighting of our roadways
and thoroughfares.
On the surface, solar energy looks tohe be our best replacement for conventional
electric street lighting. And that would be correct! But why are there still areas that
haven’t converted to solar energy? To understand this and to hopefully encourage more
people to convince their areas to go solar, we have to look at all the benefits that solar
energy provides as well as the disadvantages that come with it for people to be
prepared when they become ready to convert to a better, greener alternative.
THE PROS
At the core of its concept, solar energy is a way for us to use an energy source that is
consistent, always available, and most importantly, relatively cost-free. The energy
harnessed from the sun makes it so that we are not taking from nature something that
can’t be replaced. The sun provides light during the day, and we can use that same sun
to provide light during the nighttime.
But other than that, the operational and maintenance costs for a solar lighting system is
incredibly minute in comparison to electrically powered facilities. The lack of a unified
grid for solar street lights means they power themselves independently, and they remain
operational in the event of a serious electrical power outage. They also do not require
several wires to be hooked up, practically taking away the electrocution hazards of
wires as well as the physical risks that loose wires may present such as whiplash and
strangulation in some very bad cases.
Solar street lights are also comparatively easy to transport and set up, especially in rural
areas that need light the most. Also, in these rural areas where rotational power
outages may be common, converting street lights to solar power can also mean less
strain on electric power providers who can now allow more leeway and possibly avoid
rotational power outages altogether.
Solar street lights also, on average, produce more lumen per watt than regular electric
street lights. They are also incredibly resilient, reliable, and long-lasting and they can
also be built to withstand any weather hazards that are present depending on the area.
This also goes back to solar street lights not requiring wires. Most wires are hazardous
during storms, especially in strong winds. A solar light fixture does not present that sort
of danger in these situations.
On top of all of this, the world’s excessive reliance on non-renewable energy is still at
ridiculously high levels and every city’s carbon footprint becomes so much more
scrutinized. Reducing that carbon footprint and promoting a city’s efforts to go green
can go a long way into convincing other cities to follow suit. The best way to begin with
that is to convert to green energy on a large scale, and the street lighting is the perfect
place to start.
There are so many advantages to using solar street lights, both economically and
environmentally. But with any good thing, we must be prepared for any setbacks and
possible disadvantages. If you’re thinking of using solar power for lighting up your
roadways, it’s important to consider these disadvantages in order to prepare for them
and to be able to minimize their effect. Also, it’s important to determine just how much
the positives outweigh the negatives or vice versa, as that will ultimately decide whether
going solar is the right choice or not.
THE CONS
There are a fair number of concerns that come with changing a street lighting setup
from electrical to solar. One of which is the initial cost of replacing the existing street
lamps with solar ones. Some cities look at the initial cost and are put off and sometimes
fail to consider the long term cost benefits of it.
Being a wireless setup may also put the solar lights and its components at the risk of
theft. Solar lights are more valuable than halogen lights and are usable on their own, so
they may fetch a high price for any miscreants who may have theft in mind.
While maintenance costs are lower than average, they are not non-existent. Solar light
fixtures in very dusty areas need to be checked to make sure the panels do not
accumulate any residue that will cause any damage. The batteries will also need to be
regularly checked to make sure they are performing up to par.
CONCLUSION
While the advantages do indeed seem to outweigh the disadvantages and going solar
should definitely be the right move, it’s important to consider both sides of the story in
order to fully understand what’s involved in switching to a greener energy source. To
learn more about how you can help your area switch to solar street lighting, and to learn
more about solar energy in general, contact the solar lighting experts at Quicklight Solar
and Lighting Solutions.
